While love is described and discussed as a specific feeling, it refers to a number of feelings,
actions, and hormones as well. When they are in a state of romantic love, several areas of the
brain are stimulated, including those contained in rewards and motivation. Science has further
revealed that the brain hormone dopamine which is responsible for emotions such as pleasure
has been found to contribute greatly toward feelings of happiness and elation that are naturally
related to feelings of falling in love (Kalat, 2023). Moreover, oxytocin the ‘‘bonding hormone
helps nurture attachment and trust between the partners (Kalat, Muhammad, & Muhammad,
2023). Neuroimaging research indicates that the feelings of attraction spur the VTA and caudate
nucleus in the brain, while mood-regulating serotonin can rise and fall in the early stages of love
(Berridge & Kringelbach, l . This imply that love is more than just a feeling it also refers to a
physiological response that has abstract neural circuits.
Stress response needs the HPA axis, although chronic stress may lead to multiple diseases
affecting the access of different organs to the required volumes of blood. Stress activates the
HPA axis, which unlocks cortisol, an unspecific response, which arms the body for a fight to
clear problems or conflicts in its immediate environment (Kalat, 2023). However, prolonged
stress activation of the HPA and, therefore, high cortisol concentrations are associated with
aversive effects such as anxiety, depression, and health issues affecting the heart (McEwen,
2007). On the other hand, the dysregulated HPA axis in stress pathology contributes to the
healthy stress responses for wellbeing of body and mind. However, positive ways of dealing
with stress, such as regular exercises, or relaxation methods, can restore the baseline of the
HPA bringing back health to the normal state (Kalat, 2023).
References:
Getting to the point: The essential thermodynamics of the universe and of life. Proceedings of
the National Academy of Sciences . Affective neuroscience of pleasure: Reward in humans and
animals. Psychopharmacology, 236(1), 17-39. https:>10.1007/s00213-015-4006-9
Kalat, J. W. (2023). Biological Psychology (14th ed.). Cengage Learning.
McEwen, B. S. (2007). Physiology and neurobiology of stress and adaptation: Central role of the
brain. Physiological Reviews, 87(3), 873-904. https:available at
http://www.physiologyweb.com/PhysRevUrchttp://doi.org/10.1152/physrev.00041.2006
actions, and hormones as well. When they are in a state of romantic love, several areas of the
brain are stimulated, including those contained in rewards and motivation. Science has further
revealed that the brain hormone dopamine which is responsible for emotions such as pleasure
has been found to contribute greatly toward feelings of happiness and elation that are naturally
related to feelings of falling in love (Kalat, 2023). Moreover, oxytocin the ‘‘bonding hormone
helps nurture attachment and trust between the partners (Kalat, Muhammad, & Muhammad,
2023). Neuroimaging research indicates that the feelings of attraction spur the VTA and caudate
nucleus in the brain, while mood-regulating serotonin can rise and fall in the early stages of love
(Berridge & Kringelbach, l . This imply that love is more than just a feeling it also refers to a
physiological response that has abstract neural circuits.
Stress response needs the HPA axis, although chronic stress may lead to multiple diseases
affecting the access of different organs to the required volumes of blood. Stress activates the
HPA axis, which unlocks cortisol, an unspecific response, which arms the body for a fight to
clear problems or conflicts in its immediate environment (Kalat, 2023). However, prolonged
stress activation of the HPA and, therefore, high cortisol concentrations are associated with
aversive effects such as anxiety, depression, and health issues affecting the heart (McEwen,
2007). On the other hand, the dysregulated HPA axis in stress pathology contributes to the
healthy stress responses for wellbeing of body and mind. However, positive ways of dealing
with stress, such as regular exercises, or relaxation methods, can restore the baseline of the
HPA bringing back health to the normal state (Kalat, 2023).
References:
Getting to the point: The essential thermodynamics of the universe and of life. Proceedings of
the National Academy of Sciences . Affective neuroscience of pleasure: Reward in humans and
animals. Psychopharmacology, 236(1), 17-39. https:>10.1007/s00213-015-4006-9
Kalat, J. W. (2023). Biological Psychology (14th ed.). Cengage Learning.
McEwen, B. S. (2007). Physiology and neurobiology of stress and adaptation: Central role of the
brain. Physiological Reviews, 87(3), 873-904. https:available at
http://www.physiologyweb.com/PhysRevUrchttp://doi.org/10.1152/physrev.00041.2006
